The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the laws of the country if he truly wants to honor the late MKO Abiola.

The party made the demand in a statement on Wednesday by their National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

They issued the statement hours after the President announced June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day, to honor Abiola – the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.

President Buhari, who also conferred a posthumous GCFR title on the late businessman and philanthropist, explained that June 12 would replace May 29 because it is more symbolic.

But the opposition PDP believes there is more to the President’s announcement than honoring Abiola, claiming it might not be distanced from political reasons.

They further alleged that the President’s action smacks of hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of the presidential election in 2019.

The PDP accused President Buhari of seeking to use the name and person of Abiola to gain a political capital, insisting that his action was not out of genuine reverence and recognition for the late philanthropist.

They claimed that while serving in the military administration of General Sani Abacha during the travails of Abiola, President Buhari did not associate either by words or actions with the late winner of the June 12 election.